So you have conned me into buying a co2 kit as it will help get rid of my algae, tanksize = about 90gallons but i guess nearer 55-60 as i have to large pieces of bog wood in 1" of sand e.t.c. so which CO2 kit would you reccommend, what do i need to look for e.t.c.
which CO2 kit then?
- Thread starter adamdwalker
- Start date
OK Adam, first of all nobody here is trying to 'con' anyone into buying anything. We have found that certain things work for certain issues and pass on the information. Simple as that.
Second, I will repeat my question for the third time. Did you compare your algae against the pictures available on this page to positively ID it? And if so, is it BBA(Black Beard/Brush Algae)?
If you did and found that it is, it will take a thorough cleaning and removal of the algae in order to rid yourself of it. Then the object is to re-plant and add additional plants and get them growing well. CO2 injection will provide the carbon necessary to push the plants which makes repeat infestations of many algae difficult, but is especially hard on BBA. If you notice, the infestation is probably mainly on areas of plants that are not thriving, where as the healthy, faster growing areas have less.
Once it's cleaned up and kept clean, and the plants are growing the algae will decline.
BTW, an SAE or two would also help. They eat this particular type of algae, but are not effective on the old, crusty stuff you've got. Once it's cleaned up they will eat most of the new stuff that may re-occur.
Now a piece of bad news. The CO2 kits that you see for sale are not very effective in a tank of more than 40 gals. or so. They simply can't push enough CO2 in to the water table for a tank with a volume of 90 gals.
IMO, your choices are either to go pressurized or to daisy chain four 2ltr. bottles of DIY CO2 mixture and with a good reactor it will aid the growth much more significantly than any kit(to my knowledge) on the market. Pressurized is the best option for you and by far the easiest way to feed a steady flow of gas into the tank.
One more suggestion. Get yourself enough substrate to create a minimum of 2" - 3" of material for your plants to grow in. 1", IMO is just not enough.
Len
Second, I will repeat my question for the third time. Did you compare your algae against the pictures available on this page to positively ID it? And if so, is it BBA(Black Beard/Brush Algae)?
If you did and found that it is, it will take a thorough cleaning and removal of the algae in order to rid yourself of it. Then the object is to re-plant and add additional plants and get them growing well. CO2 injection will provide the carbon necessary to push the plants which makes repeat infestations of many algae difficult, but is especially hard on BBA. If you notice, the infestation is probably mainly on areas of plants that are not thriving, where as the healthy, faster growing areas have less.
Once it's cleaned up and kept clean, and the plants are growing the algae will decline.
BTW, an SAE or two would also help. They eat this particular type of algae, but are not effective on the old, crusty stuff you've got. Once it's cleaned up they will eat most of the new stuff that may re-occur.
Now a piece of bad news. The CO2 kits that you see for sale are not very effective in a tank of more than 40 gals. or so. They simply can't push enough CO2 in to the water table for a tank with a volume of 90 gals.
IMO, your choices are either to go pressurized or to daisy chain four 2ltr. bottles of DIY CO2 mixture and with a good reactor it will aid the growth much more significantly than any kit(to my knowledge) on the market. Pressurized is the best option for you and by far the easiest way to feed a steady flow of gas into the tank.
One more suggestion. Get yourself enough substrate to create a minimum of 2" - 3" of material for your plants to grow in. 1", IMO is just not enough.
Len
erm ok yes i did compare and i agree, i dont think we have SSA over here in the UK what are they? Ok i dont trust myself enough for the chaining of gas bottles in my room, I have been recommended http://www.animal-house.co.uk/cgi-b...line_Catalogue_CO2_Units_202.html#a1658#a1658
from my lfs (its not animal house my locla fs) also how would i add more river sand into my tank, it distrupted the tank enough when i put it in at the start as it produced browny residue for a few days even though i had washed it?
thanks
from my lfs (its not animal house my locla fs) also how would i add more river sand into my tank, it distrupted the tank enough when i put it in at the start as it produced browny residue for a few days even though i had washed it?
thanks
SAEs are Siamese Algae Eaters (Crossocheilus siamensis). They're great fish - loads of fun to watch, and constantly nibbling 
Glad you decided to try out CO2. I definitely wasn't trying to con you into anything, just passing on advice.
Glad you decided to try out CO2. I definitely wasn't trying to con you into anything, just passing on advice.
I was trying to con him. See, I am a secret agent of Fleischmann's Yeast company. We employ an entire legion of people to hang around internet message forums about aquaria and encourage DIY CO2 reactors for "healthy plant growth" and "reduction of algae". Ha! I win!
On a more serious note, if you could get a pressurized CO2 system for a tank your size, it would be pretty good. I know you'd need a CO2 tank, but as to what else you would need, I am unsure. I use the yeast (of course!).
On a more serious note, if you could get a pressurized CO2 system for a tank your size, it would be pretty good. I know you'd need a CO2 tank, but as to what else you would need, I am unsure. I use the yeast (of course!).
I guess any CO2 injection is better than non. I just don't know how effective the kit you are talking about will be in a 90 gal. tank. Most of the ones I know of are made more for 10 - 20 gal. tanks and use the same principle as DIY CO2 which is what I was referring to when I mentioned daisy chaining 2ltr. bottles together.
Using that method, you mix sugar and yeast in a bottle, run an airline from the top to the tank and the gas produced by the yeast/sugar mixture is then absorbed into the water table. One 2ltr. bottle will give you close to the equivalent in gas that a kit you'd buy at the store will give you, for less money. I've talked with a number of folks in the UK who use a type of jug(can't think of what they call it) that has a stopper in the top for producing CO2. I think it's larger than 2 liters and therefore lasts longer and can produce a higher concentration of gas.
If common sense is used, injecting this way is not dangerous at all.
Len
Using that method, you mix sugar and yeast in a bottle, run an airline from the top to the tank and the gas produced by the yeast/sugar mixture is then absorbed into the water table. One 2ltr. bottle will give you close to the equivalent in gas that a kit you'd buy at the store will give you, for less money. I've talked with a number of folks in the UK who use a type of jug(can't think of what they call it) that has a stopper in the top for producing CO2. I think it's larger than 2 liters and therefore lasts longer and can produce a higher concentration of gas.
If common sense is used, injecting this way is not dangerous at all.
Len
DIY co2 into a 90 gallon is about as practical as using a table spoon to fill a tank with water....
sure you could get 5x2l bottles going but the rate you'd run through yeast and sugar in a year would be about the cost of buying a pressurized system (they aren't that expensive!).
sure you could get 5x2l bottles going but the rate you'd run through yeast and sugar in a year would be about the cost of buying a pressurized system (they aren't that expensive!).
so you are ruling out DIY? and you want to go pressurized?adamdwalker said:
I'm confused...
its co2, your not gonna burn your house down with this stuff...